Ornamental setting for jewels and the like



March 20, 1934. w c POWERS ORNAMENTAL SETTING FOR JEWELS AND THE LIKEFiled April 27, 1955 WILLIAM C POWERS 3 @W FMMWQW Patented Mar. 20, 1934ORNAMENTAL SETTING FOR JEWELS AND THE LIKE

William 0. Powers, Chicago, 111. Application April 27, 1933, Serial No.668,281

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the setting of stones or ornamental plaques orarticles of jewelry such as rings, lockets and similar ornaments.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby a stoneor the like can be properly assembled in a setting Without requiring theuse of any specific tools, and in which the stone or the like can beremoved to be replaced by other ornamental objects without marring ordisturbing the structure of the setting.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detaileddescription thereof proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention as appliedto the setting of a stone;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective of the elements illustrated inFigure 1 but with the stone removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 4;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the foundation plate for the settingillustrated in Figures 1, 2 and. 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; V

Figure 7 is an elevation of another form of the invention;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 7 and Figure 10is an elevation of the foundation plate embodied in the form of theinvention illustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive,comprises a base plate 1 having an aperture 2 centrally located therein.The aperture 2 is shaped to conform to the contour and dimensions of thejewel or other article 3 designed to be set in said aperture on theplate 1. The plate 1 is stamped out symmetrically at the opposite endsof the aperture 2 to form the tabs 4 and 5 which are pressed slightlyupward on the face of the plate 1 to form stops for a purpose to bedescribed hereafter.

The plate 1 is also stamped out on the opposite side of the aperture 2to form strips 6 and '7 raised slightly from the face of the base plate1 to form with each other the opposite sides of a dovetailed groove.Plates 8 and 9, provided with matching recesses 10 and 11, respectively,are slidably mounted between the strips 6 and 7 to contact with thecurved ends of the jewel 3 for the purpose of retaining the jewel firmlyseated in its aperture The plates 8 and 9 may have their opposite edgesbevelled so as to conform to the slope of the sides of the dovetailedgroove formed by the strips 6 and 7.

V In assembling the elements of this form of the invention, the stone orjewel 3 is first set in the aperture 2. Ihen one of the plates, as forexample the plate 8, is slid into the dovetailed groove formed by thestrips 6 and 7 until the edge of its recess 10 contacts with andfitsover the edge of the jewel 3. It is to be understood that thenatural resiliency of the plates from which these articles areordinarily stamped out will be sufficient to cause the tab 4 to springupas a stop against the rear edge of the plate 8 when the latter hasbeen moved into its position against the stone or jewel 3. After thejewel has been positioned and one of the plates moved into clampingrelation thereto, the other plate 9 may be slid in the dovetail grooveuntil it likewise has the edge of its recess 11 contacting with theadjacent edge of the jewel. In this position, the tab 5 will have beenpassed over by the lower edge of the plate and will have sprung up toform a stop for holding the plate 9 against displacement in itsdovetailed groove.

In addition to these positive stops, the outer corners of each of theplates 8 and 9 may be bent slightly downward as indicated on the plate 8shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. After the plates are moved intolocking position, these downturned corners spring into the slots formedby stamping up the strips 6 and 7, and by engaging ends of these slots,are held against longitudinal sliding movement between the strips 6 and7. It will thus be apparent that I have provided a very economicalsetting which is positive in action for holding jewels or otherornaments positioned in a base plate which constitutes part of a ring ora locket or any other ornamental plate.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9, thebase plate 12 is stamped to form the spaced apart stops 13 and 14, andalso the inclined retaining strips 15 and 16 forming the opposite sidesof a dovetail groove. A bridge 1'7 extending between the strips 15 and16 serves as a base to support slidably the stone 18 and metallic frame19.

The four corners of the frame 19 may be bent to snap into the slotsformed by stamping out the strips 15 and 16, or into the notches 20 and21 formed in the opposite edges of the bridge 17.

In this form of the invention it is obvious that any desired number ofornamental plates may be mounted in the dovetail groove formed by thestrips 15 and 16. Where the ornamental plates are metallic, theircorners may be bent to snap into the slots or notches formed in the baseplate to lock such ornamental plates against movement in any direction.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understoodfrom the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changesmay be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, orsacrificing any of its attendant advantages; the form herein describedbeing a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating myinvention.

What I claim is:

1. In an ornamental setting for jewels and the like, a base having acentral aperture for a gem or stone, stops formed on the base onopposite sides of said aperture, strips arranged at an angle to saidbase and forming therewith a dovetail groove embracing said aperture,and retaining plates slidable in said groove transversely of saidaperture and adapted to contact with said gem or stone to hold thelatter positioned in its aperture.

2. In an ornamental setting for jewels and the like, a base having acentral aperture for a gem or stone, stops formed on the base onopposite sides of said aperture, strips arranged at an angle to saidbase and forming therewith a dovetail groove embracing said aperture,retaining plates slidable in said groove transversely of said apertureand adapted to contact with said gem or stone to hold the latterpositioned in its aperture, said stops locking said plates in apredetermined position in said groove.

3. In an ornamental setting for jewels and the like, a base having anaperture forming a seat for a gem or stone, said base being stamped outsymmetrically to provide converging strips forming a dovetail groove onopposite sides of said aperture and a pair of stops on opposite ends ofthe aperture, a pair of plates slidably mounted between said strips andprovided in their adjacent edges with recesses shaped to conform to thecontour of said aperture, said plates being locked against movement inany direction by the said stops and strips after being assembled inpredetermined position on said base.

i. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the sliding plates havetheir outer corners bent rearwardly to snap into the slots formed bystamping out the dovetailed strips.

5. In an ornamental setting for jewels and the like, a sheet metal basestamped to provide a bridge and strips converging on opposite sides ofsaid bridge to form therewith a dovetail groove, a metallic frameslidable on said bridge between said strips, and stops limiting thesliding movements of said frame in said groove, said frame having itscorners bent to snap into the slots formed by stamping the base toprovide said strips.

6. In an ornamental setting for jewels and the like, a sheet metal basestamped to provide parallel strips extending from one face of said baseand converging toward each other to form with said base a dovetailgroove, a frame slidable on said base between said strips, and stopslimiting the sliding movements of said frame in said grooves, said framehaving its corners bent to snap into the slots formed by stamping thebase to provide said strips.

WILLIAM C. POWERS.

